The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-07-27
the TREsPAssERs.
Statement of the Captain OF the An
nIe Hodgson.
The Captains of the French and Ar
gonaut Get Away.
Empty Results of the Canadian
Cruisers Prowess.

HALIFAX, N. s., July 26-Capt. Morrison,
Of the schooner Annie Morrison, seized by
the Canadian cutter Advance. makes the fol
lowing statement
81 am out from Gloucester about fortnight on
a fishing trip. Sunday morning was anchored Ia
eight fath0ms of water, 10 miles south southeast
OF Shelburne light. During the morning three DO
ries lett the schooner TO visit travis. Two of
them returned shortly after, but the third
strayed away from the schooner Ia the fog. There
was another vessel lying to the west-northwest OF
about O'Clock in the afternoon, | ran up to her
and found that my missing men had not Boarded
her then ran back to my old anchorage ground
in hopes that the men would find their way back
to us. As 1t set In thick again towards night l
determined to run into Sheburne haroor 70 see
might not have got safely lntO the harbor. We
dropped anchor inside the light this morning, sent
dory ashore TO see II the men had arrived and
found that they had. The two dOries returned to
the schooner together this morning. with the fish
that the lost men had taken yesterday from the
travis. These are the hsh now on my deck. un-
"You were. proceeding to sea when the cutters
boat boarded you?"
"Had you reported your vessel?"
"No; because 1t was long way to the custom
house, and 1 was anxious TO get back to my
aYou know 1t was breach Of the customs laws
to leave port without reporting?"
Eyes, did"
"Dld you know the cutter was in port7"
Il heard she was"
This was all the information the Captain
had to offer. He denied being in for bait,
either last week or now, and said he had
squid bait enough to last him for the trip.
The Annie w. Hodgson Is boat of 239
tons, and was built at Boothbay in 1880.
HALIFAX. July 26-The case of the Glou-
cester fishing schooner, Annie w. Hodgson,
seized yesterday at Shelburne, is similar TO
most Of last years seizures for customs vio-
lations. and has no connection with the fish
cries treaty. The vessel, which had previ-
ously been only detained awaiting orders
from Ottawa, was today formally seized ON a
charge of violating Canadian customs laws,
and fine of $500 imposed. All the vessels
seized last season on similar charges were
either fined $500 or 500 each, the fine being
deposited, in every case, under protest. AT
forwards, nearly the whole amount was re-
funded to the various owners, only the NOM
inal sum of $500 or thereabouts being re-
tanned by the government: The action re-
specting the Hodgson Is therefore somew hat
odd, the offence being no more serious than
those committed before.
Capt. Knowlton, of the cruiser Advance,
who made the capture, was Informed some
days ago that the Hodgson was on the west
ern coast, and it was suspected was in search
OF bait, but so far there is no proof OF any
violation of the treaty. She is accordingly
held simply for the customs offence.
When the vessel was seized there were
some fresh cod fish in tub on the deck
which Capt. Morrison stated had been
brought on board by the missing men who
were just found. There is ne evidence in
ssQntradiction Of this, and 1t is probable that
the ffsh>Yere really caught on Brann's Bank,
being taken from the trS~3s f6ef6fe the men
strayed away fhthe log. After instructions
from Ottawa to impose 500 fine, Custom Col
lector Atwood requested Capt. Morrison to
bring the schooner to the wharf, which was
done. She now lies In the dock in charge of
the collectors men. Capt Morrison tele-
graphed the owners asking whether the fine
shall be paid, but has not yet received an an
swer.
There are no later developments in the
other cases, but no doubt should the Schs. j..
III. French or the Argonant, to which boats
belonged, be found within the three mile
limit they will be Immediately seized for vio-
lation of the treaty. Consul General Phelan
regards the Hodgd0n affair as rather an ex-
traordinary one. He considers that the crew
and vessel owners have been harshly treat
ed. The schooner, he says, was on a mission
OF humanity in searching for the lost fisher
men. She did not enter Shelburne harbor
properly and the captain OF the cruiser might
very gracefully without stepping beyond his
power, have himself entered and cleared the
vessel and permitted her to continue on her
way unmolested.
CHARLoTTETowN, p. L. L., July 26-Capt
Harris, of the American schooner Col. j. II.
French, and the captain Of the schooner Ar
gonaut were both in their seine boats at
Souris, while the cutter Critic was bearing
down upon them, but they got into their do
ries, made for their vessels and got away
There were only two men of the first named
vessel caught, and twelve of the Argonaut.
The seines were tipped and the mackerel let
60. The men appear to be white elephants
in Capt. McLean's hands, as he does not
know what to do with them. The fishermen
will be cared for by the acting United States
Consul.
Capt. Mclean says he could not fire at the
poachers for fear he would injure some 9th er
vessels. Several other American vessels
have been poaching along the coast, where
mackerel have been taken in eight feet of
water.
The Marshal of the Admiralty Court left
here for Souris last night.